…Some group health plans may cover a medical evacuation, says Susan Pisano, spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group in Washington.

One option is to buy travel insurance, which typically runs 5% to 7% of your trip’s total cost. Travel insurance for medical needs is usually offered as part of a package including coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, but standalone medical policies also exist. Policies are available through travel agents and online.

Policies typically cover everyday issues such as when a traveler falls and needs to fly home for surgery as well as emergencies that require a chartered flight with medical equipment. You can compare policies at Squaremouth.com and InsureMyTrip.com.

Without some insurance, a medical evacuation typically costs $20,000 to $30,000, says Carol Mueller, spokeswoman for Travel Guard, a travel-insurance provider in Stevens